End of Session Recap Part 1

We are just over one month removed from the end of the 86th Legislative Session. Since the 20-day deadline for the Governor to veto bills has come and gone, we now know what the final work product of the 86th Legislature looks like. These next few newsletters are my attempt to give you an overview of what the Texas Legislature did for you (and sometimes to you) during the 2019 legislative session.

With everything that took place in the 140-day legislative session, we thought it would be most convenient for the reader to break up the End of Session Recap Newsletter into 3 parts over the next 3 weeks. This newsletter, Part 1, will deal with the major legislation passed during the session . Part 2 will deal with what I spent the bulk of my time on this session — the work of the Human Services Committee and Public Health Committee. And Part 3 will discuss the interim and what to expect going forward from me, my office, and for state government as a whole.

Some of this, especially the information about SB 2 and HB 3, will seem familiar. We have already discussed these two bills in some depth in previous newsletters. However, these two issues (property tax transparency/reform and school finance reform) are what this session will be remembered for so we’re including information about them one last time.

It has truly been great being back hom e in Wichita Falls. I am thankful that a state rep in Texas gets to spend 19 months of every 24-month cycle living in his/her hometown. Not only is this much better for my own quality of life, it makes it much easier for representatives to stay connected to the needs and desires of their communities. I am also grateful for the opportunity recently to speak to various civic groups and organizations, including the Helen Farabee Centers Board, Wichita County Republicans, and Burkburnett Rotary Club. I fielded questions from them about the session and what law changes could mean.

Finally, the July 4th holiday is a reminder of the freedoms that we enjoy and should be a reminder of the sacrifices of those who died to give us these freedoms and opportunities. While it is fashionable in some circles to insult our country, it is clear by the number of people trying desperately to get into the United States that it remains a beacon of freedom and hope. These freedoms and opportunities seem evident to the world, but are missed by many within our borders.
May God bless you and your family,

… this is an excerpt from Newsletter dated April 22, 2018